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Guest
Hello everyone, sorry this post is long I have a tendency to ramble. I’m having trouble with a religious vocation, and would greatly appreciate sound guidance. I converted to the faith in 06 and have been discerning since I was in the RCIA (guess I must be thick headed 
). However over the years the feelings I’ve had in my heart, the doors the Lord has opened and the ones he has closed in my life, the experiences I’ve encountered and the people he has brought into my life have made the answer clear. I have prayed relentlessly that He would reveal His will and give me the strength to serve and love. I do not feel that I have been called to the priesthood, but to serve as a layman. To save on a lengthy explanation I will say it is in the same spirit as the catholic worker movement. The problem however is my girlfriend. We met shortly before my initiation and have been together since. She does not share my faith, however bless her she never tried to take it away. She sees the sacrifices I am making and knows the life I am preparing for and wants no part of it. This however is a major problem because I cannot refuse God, but it looks we cannot continue our relationship. How could we share a life if she can’t accept the choices i make for the Lord. For the past few months I’ve been trying to find a compromise and have sadly failed. I cant give her what she wants without refusing God what I feel he asks. I went to my spiritual advisor/ pastor/ local vocations director and he doesn’t seem to know what to say other than instructing me to spend more time in Eucharistic adoration, and further complicating things by asking me to reconsider the priesthood. In trust I have complied and still feel the priesthood is not where I’m meant to be. So it appears I have two paths before me but they both require me to end my relationship, which I am willing. The question is if I should do it now or wait to see if she comes around (which I doubt), and risk hurting her more. That is the whole problem is that I know she will take this hard and just don’t want to hurt her as she is such a kind person, and what would be the most gentle way to do this. Again I’m sorry for being a rambler and thank you so much to anyone who responds.
). However over the years the feelings I’ve had in my heart, the doors the Lord has opened and the ones he has closed in my life, the experiences I’ve encountered and the people he has brought into my life have made the answer clear. I have prayed relentlessly that He would reveal His will and give me the strength to serve and love. I do not feel that I have been called to the priesthood, but to serve as a layman. To save on a lengthy explanation I will say it is in the same spirit as the catholic worker movement. The problem however is my girlfriend. We met shortly before my initiation and have been together since. She does not share my faith, however bless her she never tried to take it away. She sees the sacrifices I am making and knows the life I am preparing for and wants no part of it. This however is a major problem because I cannot refuse God, but it looks we cannot continue our relationship. How could we share a life if she can’t accept the choices i make for the Lord. For the past few months I’ve been trying to find a compromise and have sadly failed. I cant give her what she wants without refusing God what I feel he asks. I went to my spiritual advisor/ pastor/ local vocations director and he doesn’t seem to know what to say other than instructing me to spend more time in Eucharistic adoration, and further complicating things by asking me to reconsider the priesthood. In trust I have complied and still feel the priesthood is not where I’m meant to be. So it appears I have two paths before me but they both require me to end my relationship, which I am willing. The question is if I should do it now or wait to see if she comes around (which I doubt), and risk hurting her more. That is the whole problem is that I know she will take this hard and just don’t want to hurt her as she is such a kind person, and what would be the most gentle way to do this. Again I’m sorry for being a rambler and thank you so much to anyone who responds.